Bent Wheel Bash 2013 is in the books. Thanks so much to everyone who came out and raced. We thoroughly enjoyed having y’all out here. A HUGE thanks to all our volunteers. We could not have done it without you!
Here is a link to the results: https://www.usacycling.org/results/?permit=2013-1099
Here’s the basic schedule for race weekend:
Friday, March 15, 2013
5:00 – Gate opens and camping spots are available
Saturday, March 16, 2013
7:00 – Gate opens
8:00 – Expo area opens
12:00 – Shimano Youth Series Kids’ Kup registration opens
1:00 – Race registration opens
1:00 – First-time racer’s clinic
2:00 – Shimano Youth Series Kids’ Kup Clinic and Race
5:00 – Registration closes
Sunday, March 17, 2013
5:00 – Gate opens
6:00 – Registration opens*
8:00 – Cat 2 & Single Speed 2/3
10:00 – Pro/Cat 1/Single Speed Open
12:00 – Cat 3
12:30** – Cat 2 Awards
1:30 – Cat 3: 12 & Under, 10 & Under
2:00** – Cat 1 Awards
2:30** – Cat 3 Awards & Raffle
3:00** – 12 & Under and 10 & Under Awards
* Registration is open until 30 minutes prior to the start of each category.
** Awards could start earlier or a tad later – it just depends on finishing and protest times. We will start awards as soon as results are finalized so everyone can head home at a decent time. You’ll want to stick around for the Cat 3 raffle. There are some pretty cool prizes, including a work stand and home mechanic tool kit.
Fees
Gate Fee – $5 per car – You will get a sticker for your windshield. This is good for the entire weekend – you only pay once.
Camping Fee – $20 per spot – Once again, this is for the entire weekend. So, if you camp you will end up paying $25 total (one camping spot and one car)
All the fees benefit the Abilene Police Departments.
Buck Creek Trails are located in Abilene, TX on FM 2833 (East Lake Road), 1 1/2 miles north of Highway 351. After you turn on to FM 2833, you will pass a water treatment plant on your left at about the 1 1/2 mile mark. Approximately 1/2 mile after that, you will cross a bridge and then see the turn-in to the police academy on your right. It has a large blue gate with “Warren Dodson Police Training Center” on it. Look for the yellow and black cyclist cutout posted at the academy entrance. If you reach the intersection of FM 2833 and Neas Road, you’ve gone too far north.
This entrance is only for Bent Wheel Bash, and is not the normal daily use gate.
When the actual physical address of the academy is looked up on Google maps, it takes you to the wrong place (in the nearby lake), so just use these directions instead.
Here’s a link to a Google Earth view of the Bent Wheel Bash 2013 race route. This is what the guy who set it up has to say: “Download the attached file and double click on it. It should try and open in Google Earth. Double click on the one that says BWB 2013 Overview and the tour should automatically start. I like to go into preferences on Google Earth and change the settings on the 3D tab to ‘High Resolution’ terrain and set the elevation exageration to 3. It makes the experience a little more fun. Enjoy!”
There will be Bent Wheel Bash t-shirts for sale at the venue. They cost $10 and all the proceeds benefit the Abilene Police Department Bike Unit. Bent Wheel Bash 2013 is on St. Patrick’s Day, so, of course, the shirts are green with orange and white. Just take a look at our logo and you’ll know what the front of the shirt looks like.
There will be food available at the race venue. Steak Express will have their food truck set up at lunch and dinner times on Saturday and from 11:00 am until the end on Sunday. They will be selling plates which include a cheeseburger, chips, and sweet tea for $7. They will also have water and Gatorade for sale. The Abilene Police Department Bike Unit will have a concession stand open as well. They will be selling breakfast burritos, fruit and snack items, as well as water and Gatorade. We would love it if you buy food at the venue since this money directly benefits the APD Bike Unit. However, if those items aren’t your cup of tea, there are several restaurants just a couple of miles away from the trails, including Chili’s, Jason’s Deli, Cracker Barrel, Chick-Fil-A, and Taco Casa.
Thanks so much to all our sponsors of Bent Wheel Bash. Without them, this event would not happen! Take a minute and check out their websites. They are helping us raise money for the Abilene Police Department through their Bent Wheel Bash sponsorships, so we’d like to do all we can to get their names out to you guys.
Title Sponsor:
Wheel Sponsors:
Handlebar Sponsors:
Pedal Sponsors
We know that Abilene is a bit further than normal to travel for many of you competing in TMBRA races. Not only that, the price of gas is getting ridiculous. So, BikeTown is donating three $50 prepaid Visa cards to help with the cost of gas. Everyone who registers is eligible to win one of these cards. There will be a separate drawing for each category of racers. When you pick up your race number at the venue there will be a place to drop your name in the drawing. The winner for each category will be drawn after the close of that category’s registration and will be announced at that category’s award time. Just look for the sign at registration showing you where to enter.
Primitive camping is available at the race venue. RVs and tents are both welcome. There are no electric or water hookups, but there are showers available. A campsite will cost $20. Gates open at 5:00 pm on Friday. The land access fee is $5 per car, not per person. You are only charged these fees once for the weekend, so the most you’ll pay if you camp is $25.
If camping isn’t your thing, there are many hotels right down the road from Buck Creek Trails. We have a special rate of $75 + tax at Comfort Suites on E. Overland Trail. You will need to call them directly in order to get this rate. There are several other events in town the same weekend as Bent Wheel Bash and hotel rooms are filling up fast. If you want a room at Comfort Suites, please call them ASAP. They will not be able to hold the rooms much longer because of the demand. Their number is 325-672-0338.
Here is a list of hotels within a few miles of the trails.
Comfort Suites – 325-672-0338
Holiday Inn Express – 325-675-9800
Residence Inn – 325-677-8700
Whitten Inn – 325-673-5271
Hampton Inn – 325-673-4400
La Quinta – 325-676-1676
Here is the race flyer with start times listed. We realize that Abilene is a little further to travel for a TMBRA race than many of you are used to, so we are doing our best to get you finished and on the road home at a decent hour.
Please keep checking back at this website. We’ll be posting updates regularly over the next 2 1/2 weeks. We hope to see you on St. Patrick’s Day at Bent Wheel Bash!
